RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate thermography application as a complementary method in preventing muscle injury in professional soccer players. METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study with 28 professional soccer players that composed a first division of Brazilian's soccer team between 2015 and 2016. In both seasons (2015 and 2016), muscle injuries were documented and classified in grade of severity, by ultrasound. During the following season (2016), infrared medical thermography was applied twice a week (48 hours after game) and if a difference of temperature was detected higher than 0.4°C, a prevention protocol was initiated. Muscle injuries in 2016 were documented. RESULTS: In 2015, the total number of muscle injuries was 11. In 2016, the total number of muscle injuries was 4 (p=0.04). It represents an incidence/player of 78% in 2015 and 28% in 2016, corresponding to a decrease of 64% in 2016. Seven players played in the first team in both seasons. Among these seven players, muscle injuries were reduced from 8 (in 2015) to 3 (in 2016)-a decrease of 63% in the season we used thermographic monitoring (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: The pilot data provide a promising catalyst for a rigorous RCT that could examine whether thermography can contribute to a muscle injury prevention programme.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: To find a radiographic method that best correlates with the mean subaxial cervical space available for the cord (MSCSAC) by using a fixed size parameter as radiographic reference, in contrast to the use of vertebral bodies as reference in the mean subaxial cervical Torg ratio (MTorg). METHODS: The study was approved by an institutional review board and written informed consent was obtained. Radiographs and cervical neck MRI were obtained from 18 male rugby athletes (age 18-30 years). Rheumatic disease, symptomatic cervical orthopaedic disease and previous cervical injury were used as exclusion criteria. MSCSAC and MTorg were calculated for each individual as the space available for the cord and Torg ratio averages from C3 to C6, respectively. A new radiographic method, using a metal bar as a size parameter (the corrected diameter of the cervical canal - CDCC), was also calculated for each individual, as well as its average from C3 to C6 (mean corrected diameter of the cervical canal - MCDCC). Values obtained for MCDCC and MTorg were correlated with those obtained by the MSCSAC using Pearson's coefficient. RESULTS: Four volunteers were excluded due to previous cervical injury. In total, 14 subjects had their radiographs and MRIs analysed. Pearson's correlation between MSCSAC and MTorg was 0.5706 (p=0.033). The correlation between MSCSAC and MCDCC was 0.6903 (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: MCDCC correlates better than MTorg with MSCSAC and may be a better radiographic option than MTorg for cervical stenosis evaluation.
RESUMO
A fixaçao do enxerto de tendao patelar no túnel femoral através do parafuso de interferência é hoje um dos métodos mais utilizados na reconstruçao do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA). Neste estudo, foram testados doze joelhos de cadáveres simulando a reconstruçao intra-articular desse ligamento, utilizando-se enxerto de tendao patelar. Foram comparadas a variaçao da distância de um fio de comprtamento quase inelástico e de um enxerto fixado nas posiçoes inferior e posterior no túnel femoral, no arco de flexao de 0 a 90 do joelho. Constatou-se que nao houve diferença estatisticamente significativa quando comparados o fio com o enxerto fixado na posiçao inferior e desse com o fixado na posiçao posterior. No arco de flexao de 30-60, houve diferença significativa quando comparado o fio com o enxerto na posiçao posterior. Concluiu-se, dessa maneira, que a fixaçao do enxerto de tendao patelar pelo parafuso de interferência deve ser feito preferencialmente na posiçao inferior, por mais se aproximar do comportamento isométrico do LCA.